# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S337
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

336

20. O. Sports editor “Badger Lutheran” 9;
Chm. Pub. Educ. Com. of American Cancer
Soc., North Unit 5. M.A. Educ. degree.

LAYPERSONS

Arthur P. Brackebusch, 53, Missoula,
MT: First (MT); forester. S. BHE 11, Chm.
BHE 3. C. Vice-Pres.; Chm. Bldg. Com. M.S. in
Forestry, Ki Sigma Pi.

Anamelia Eden, 53, Dorsey, IL: Zion
(SI); Tax Practitioner for CPA. S. Adv. member
Bd. for Miss. 3. D. Nom. & Election Com. 3;
Bylaws Com. 2; Dele. to IL Conf. of Churches.
C. Evang. Com. 5; Bible Class teacher 10. O.
Intl. LWML Bd. of Dir. 9; LWML Mission
Service & Nom. Com. 6.

Erwin Eichhorst,58, Waldorf, MN: First
(MNS); insurance sales. S. Conv. Dele. 2; Adv.
Dele. 1. D. Bd. of Dir. 6. C. SS & Bible class
teacher 18; Elder 6; Treas. 3. O. Dist. LLL Tele.
chm. 5; Dist. LLL Vice-Pres. 2, LLL Zone Pres.

Ralph M. Fickenscher, 62, Hayward
CA: Prince of Peace (CNH); business & tax
consultant. S. Conv. Nom. 2; Dele. 4, Floor
Com. BHE 1; Convoc. Dele. 1; Dele. Fiscal &
Stewp. Conf. 5. D. Treas. 15; Conv. Dele.; Fin.
Bd.; Stewp.; Church Ext.; Bd. of Dir. C. Pres. 7;
Elder 5; SS Supt. 2. O. Sec. Dist. LLL 4; Bd. of
Gov. LLL 5; Treas. & Bd. member LCFS 10.
B.S. degree.

John L. Harms, 50, Cleveland, OH: St.
Thomas, Rocky River (OH); Vice-Pres. Mfg.
National Bias Fabric Co. C. Chm. Bd. Deacons
4; Bd. of Fin. 3; Chm. FIR 1. O. Bd. Trustees,
Luth. Home for Aged 7; Dele. Dist. Conv. 2.
B:S. degree.

Thomas N. Olsen, 49, Allendale, NJ:
Bethlehem-Ridgewood (NJ); elementary
school principal. 8. Bd. of Control, Bronxville
3. D. Pres. Walther League 1; Exec Bd. member
WL10.C.SS teacher 20, SS Supt. 15. O. Public
School Bd.; Local Library Bd. B.S. & M.A.
degrees.

Margaret K. Rusch, 64, Ann Arbor,
MI: St. Paul (MC); C. Bd. Soc. Ministry
2; Study Com. 1; Ladies Aid Pres. & Treas. 6;
SS teacher 7.

Henry Sundermann, 60, Sioux Falls,
SD: Christ (SD); manufacturer. D. Stewp. Task
Force 2. C. Chm. 2; Sec. 2; Elder 10.

Archie Unterseher, 46, Cedar Rapids,
IA: Zion-Hiawatha (IE); gen. business mgr. D.
Conv. Dele. 2. C. Chm. 2; Chm. Bd. Elders 14;
Bd. of Educ. 4. B.A. & B.S. degrees.

Paul H. Wegele, 55, Bazine, KS: St. Lukes
(KS); farmer/stockman. D. Bd. Miss. 2; Bd.
Theology 2; Com. on Ecumenical Affairs 2; Ad
Hoc Stewp. Com. 1. C. Pres.; Treas.; Sec.;
Elder; Stewp. Com.; Sec. of SS; Vice-Pres. O.
LLL Dist. Pres. 2; LLL Dist. VicePres. 3;
Membership Com. 5; Intl. LLL Regional Gov.
4; Sec. LLL Regional Bd. 3; Chm. Luth. Hour
Com. 4.

Connor L. Corkran Jr.

1. Twenty years experience as a naval admin-
istrator and leader well suit me for the
positions to which I have been nominated.

2. I am particularly pleased at the solidly
Biblical and conservative mood of Synod
and would pray we continue to be Biblical,
confessional, and in the best sense of the
word, ecumenical (without, at the same
time, unionistic).

3. Train more pastors and provide additional
funding for mission work world-wide. Offer
training for laymen to assist pastors locally
as evangelists and in personal witnessing.
Reassess current synodical budget in terms
of administrative costs for work of Synod
as opposed to mission outlay; are we being
good stewards of our money? Can admin-
istrative costs be reduced, mission budget
increased?

Lester H. Gierach *

1. I have served in Canada during all my
ministry. My involvement with Lutheran

NOMINATIONS

Church—Canada has brought me into con-
tact with capable and dedicated church
leaders across Canada. My present position
during the past 13 years has given me
insights regarding the work of the synod-
ical boards and committees.

2. My greatest joy is that Synod is moving
forward and is ready to enter the “open
doors” of the ’80s. I am thrilled to see that
the people of our church are ready and
willing to bring large gifts to the Lord so
that Synod can enter these open doors.

3. I feel very strongly that Synod should move
forward in entering the open doors which
the Lord has opened for us. It seems that for
too many years other things have diverted
us from this goal, and we have not seized
these opportunities. It is of utmost import-
ance that we go forward now while doors
are still open. The words of Joshua come to
mind: “Let us go up at once to possess the
land, for we are well able to do it.”

Martin R. Greunke

1. Committee for Convention Nominations—
Prior service in the Michigan District 1976
convention. Irvine Bd. of Control—Former-
ly in Education for six years as high school
teacher. Was considered once for Director
of Recruitment at Concordia, Ann Arbor
(1978).

2. Greatest Joy—Knowing Synod is again on
doctrinal course and especially gearing up
for more mission outreach. Disappoint.
ment—The course others have taken away
from Synod to ELIM, AELLC, ete.

3. There is only one direction! To move out—
but congregations need a lot of help in
knowing how! Discipleship training needs
to be emphasized—not just church
membership!

Donald F. Jung

1. Have become acquainted with many people
in Synod from many areas. Attended nine
synodical conventions (five as voting
delegate). Served on three convention floor
committees. Presently 2d Vice—President
of District. Member, District Mission
Board. Have served as Circuit Counselor in
two Districts.

2. Forward in Remembrance is making
possible growth in missions as well as
education, to equip and send. Common
goals are both drawing us together and
leading us forward in mission.

3. We have no choice but to be in mission for
Christ as we work together as a Synod.
That service happens primarily in the local
congregation, but it is expanded on Synod’s
campuses, and through all the other enabl-
ing roles of Synod. Responding to Him who
first loved us, we are called to be His
faithful witnesses, continually seeking to
be ever more effective.

Erwin Kostizen

1. [have been chairman of Circuit Counselors
of the Michigan District for over eight
years. I am a pastor of a growing church
and above all I love my church and am
loyal to it.

2. My greatest joy is that as a confessional
church we continue to witness to the world
that we are saved alone by the grace of God
through faith in our Lord Jesus. My great-
est disappointment is that we have failed to
stem our backdoor losses and grow more
vigorously.

3. The Synod should aggressively be ‘“find-
ing,” “feeding,” and “folding” the sheep
and lambs into the Kingdom. Growth—
both personal and numerical—must
become the church’s first priority.

Vincent S. Larson Jr. *

1. Having served our beloved Synod as both a
teacher and pastor in locations across the
United States, I have become acquainted

with a number of people and pastors and
have had the opportunity to see them “in
action” for their Lord. Also my past and
present training have given me growth in
leadership skills.

2. As my beloved Synod stands at the thresh-
old of the ’80s there is a great anticipation
throughout her churches in carrying out
her Lord’s mandate to disciple nations! My
personal joy is being a small part of it as
Subdistrict director for ‘‘Forward in
Remembrance”! Already, in its incipient
stage, the Lord is stirring the hearts of His
people.

3. The direction Synod is presently going with
the Great Commission Convocation, ‘‘For-
ward in Remembrance’; its plans for going
through “Open Doors” in the ’80s all testify
to the Lord’s presence among us... using us
as His tools! Let’s keep going that way! In
addition, while engaged in mission and
evangelism thrusts, it’s also good to see our
doctrinal position strengthened and the
means of grace reemphasized as it has been
so recently made plain with CTCR’s Fellow-
ship Study!

Victor H. Marxhausen *

1. The Lord has granted me some special gifts
which I have been able to use in the capacity
of administration within our District, con-
gregation, and several agencies of the
Synod.

2. My greatest joy is to know that my Synod
not only has a determination, with God’s
help, to be faithful to His Holy Word but has
in recent years taken firm steps in that
direction.

3. Having been blessed with the pure Word of
our Lord, we have a special challenge from
Him to anxiously share and spread the
Good News to the lost. In the age of
advanced technology, the church has avail-
able new and exciting techniques and
means to share this message of love and
forgiveness. Our membership needs to be
awakened and made aware of the chal-
lenges, opportunities, and joys of missions
and evangelism and boldly support synod-
ical missions with generous means.

Elwood E. Mather Jr.
1—
2.—
3. —

Louis E. Nelsen Jr.

1. Endeavoring to fit individuals into synod-
ical assignments seems to be convention
nominations committee members’ essential
qualifications. Perhaps having been the
following help qualify me: Circuit Coun-
selor, six years; member District’s Youth
Committee, three years; secretary, chair-
man, New Orleans Pastoral Conference,
five and two years; pastoral advisor,
District’s LWML, six years.

2. Seeing the faculties of our seminaries and
teachers colleges discarding the HC method
of Biblical interpretation, becoming solidly
Biblical, thus assuring, under God, faithful
pastors and teachers to serve all classes of
people, everywhere—this is a source of
great joy and thanksgiving to me.

3. Considering the “all nations” emphasis of
the Great Commission prompts me to pray
that our Synod will neglect no one with the
pure Gospel of Jesus Christ—neither on
foreign fields nor locally; neither young nor
old, nor those in between; neither minorities
nor majorities; neither male nor female.
Pursuing this course, primarily, I further
pray that our Synod will move to alleviate
physical and mental suffering wherever
possible.

Harold Reiss

1. Ihave been in the ministry since 1954, have
served in several District and synodical